Location based routing that bypasses circuit-based networks

Abstract

Methods, devices, and system related to wireless communications are disclosed. In one example aspect, a method for wireless communications includes receiving, by a network node in a communication network, a packet associated with a call that has been initiated for a user device, and determining, by the network node, location information carried in a header of the packet. The method also includes determining, by the network node using a mapping between location information and Major Trading Are (MTA) values, a MTA value corresponding to the location information carried in the header, and routing, by the network node based on the MTA value, the packet using a routing path that bypasses a circuit-switched based network.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
 receiving, by a network node in a communication network, a packet associated with a long-distance call that has been initiated for a wireless user device,
 wherein the communications network includes an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) layer; 
 
 determining, by the network node, location information carried in a header of the packet,
 wherein the header of the packet comprises a P-Access-Network-Info (PANI) header, and 
 wherein the location information comprises a Tracking Area Code (TAC); 
 
 determining, by the network node using a mapping between locations and Major Trading Area (MTA) values, an MTA value corresponding to the location information carried in the header,
 wherein the determining includes mapping between the TAC and the MTA, and 
 wherein the MTA value is used for route index analysis for identifying an outgoing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) route by employing at least a high byte value of the TAC; and 
 
 routing, by the network node based on the MTA value, the packet using a routing path that bypasses a circuit-switched based network,
 wherein the routing enables direct routing of the long-distance call via the IMS layer, and 
 wherein the routing uses the location information carried in the header of the packet for communication with a peer IMS layer of a different wireless network, thereby bypassing the circuit-switched network. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein for LTE, a high byte value of the TAC in the PANI header is employed, while for 5G, all byte values of the TAC in the PANI header are employed. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) configured to process the header of the packet to determine the TAC or both the tracking area and a country, from which the long-distance call has been initiated, wherein based on the location information, the BGCF routes the call directly to the peer IMS layer, and wherein the peer IMS layer is associated with inter-exchange carriers to thereby eliminate directing the call back to the circuit-switched network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises Mobile Country Code (MCC) and/or Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network node comprises a Breakout Gateway Control Function. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network or a Fifth-Generation (5G) network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call comprises a Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) call, a Voice over New Radio (VoNR) call, or a WiFi call. 
     
     
       8. A device for wireless communication, comprising a processor that is configured to:
 receive, in a communication network, a packet associated with a long-distance call that has been initiated for a mobile device,
 wherein the communications network includes an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); 
 
 determine location information carried in a header of the packet,
 wherein the header of the packet comprises a P-Access-Network-Info (PANI) header, and 
 wherein the location information comprises a Tracking Area Code (TAC); 
 
 determine, using a mapping between locations and Major Trading Area (MTA) values, an MTA value corresponding to the location information carried in the header,
 wherein the determining includes mapping between the TAC and the MTA, and 
 wherein the MTA value is used for route index analysis for identifying an outgoing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) route by employing at least a high byte value of the TAC; and 
 
 route, based on the MTA value, the packet using a routing path that bypasses a circuit-switched based network,
 wherein the routing uses the location information carried in the header of the packet for communication with a peer IMS of a different wireless network, thereby eliminating cost of routing through the circuit-switched network. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein for LTE, a high byte value of the TAC in the PANI header is employed, while for 5G, all byte values of the TAC in the PANI header are employed. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) configured to process the header of the packet to determine the TAC or both the tracking area and a country, from which the long-distance call has been initiated, wherein based on the location information, the BGCF routes the call directly to the peer IMS, and wherein the peer IMS is associated with inter-exchange carriers to thereby eliminate directing the call back to the circuit-switched network. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the location information comprises Mobile Country Code (MCC) and/or Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is a Breakout Gateway Control Function in the communication network. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the communication network comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network or a Fifth-Generation (5G) network. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the call comprises a Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) call, a Voice over New Radio (VoNR) call, or a WiFi call. 
     
     
       15. A system for wireless communication, comprising:
 a user device configured to initiate a long-distance call using an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); and 
 a network node in a communication network, wherein the network node configured to:
 receive a packet associated with the call for the user device; 
 determine location information carried in a header of the packet,
 wherein the header of the packet comprises a P-Access-Network-Info (PANI) header, and 
 wherein the location information comprises a Tracking Area Code (TAC); 
 
 determine, using a mapping between locations and Major Trading Area (MTA) values, an MTA value corresponding to the location information carried in the header,
 wherein the determining includes mapping between the TAC and the MTA, and 
 wherein the MTA value is used for route index analysis for identifying an outgoing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) route by employing at least a high byte value of the TAC; and 
 
 route, based on the MTA value, the packet using a routing path that bypasses a circuit-switched based network,
 wherein the routing uses the location information carried in the header of the packet for communication with a peer IMS of a different wireless network, thereby eliminating cost of routing through the circuit-switched network. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein for LTE, a high byte value of the TAC in the PANI header is employed, while for 5G, all byte values of the TAC in the PANI header are employed. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the network node is a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) configured to process the header of the packet to determine the TAC or both the tracking area and the country, from which the long-distance call has been initiated, wherein based on the location information, the BGCF routes the call directly to the peer IMS, and wherein the peer IMS is associated with inter-exchange carriers to thereby eliminate directing the call back to the circuit-switched network. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the location information comprises Mobile Country Code (MCC) and/or Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the network node comprises a Breakout Gateway Control Function. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the call comprises a Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) call, a Voice over New Radio (VoNR) call, or a WiFi call.